ICYMI: King Stresses that “All of the Above” Energy Policy Means Exploring All Power Sources

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (ENR) to consider the nominations of Chris Wright to be Secretary of Energy and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum to be Secretary of Interior, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) noted the omission of wind and solar technologies in recent Executive Orders despite public statements pledging an "all of the above" approach to energy. Senator King began his remarks by reiterating his support for the two nominees, while also making clear the need to recognize the value of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.

"Thank you so much. I supported both nominees. I don't expect to agree with everything any nominee holds, but I think that both of these nominees understand these issues - the issues before us - quite well. I will echo Senator Hickenlooper's comments, I look forward to working with both of them. I think they will make a significant contribution. I wanted to make a more general comment. In this committee I have heard the phrase "all of the above" 100 times. Unfortunately, in the last couple of days it appears that "all of the above" doesn't include wind and solar. Anybody who thinks wind power doesn't produce real electricity, I would advise them to go to a project to put their tongue on the bus bar of a wind turbine to see if it's real energy. Of course, it is. The development of those technologies - which, by the way, wind and solar are the cheapest electrical generation technologies available today, three cents per kilowatt hour is the average across the country, lower than anything else. Combined cycled natural gas is close. The intermittency problems we discussed are solvable. They are solvable by natural gas as a potential backup that can be ramped up and ramped down as needed. It can be solved, of course, by the incredible development of battery technology which Senator Heinrich mentioned," said Senator King.

Speaking to the urgency of climate change, Senator King echoed the importance of keeping every option on the table to help deliver sustainable and economically viable energy solutions.

"So, all I want to do is reiterate my belief that 'all of the above' includes all of the available technologies, as well as those still in development: small modular reactors, geothermal. There are tremendous opportunities out there, but to try to say that there is only one source of energy and that it lies beneath the surface of the Earth and is not geothermal, that's not accurate, nor does it take cognizance to the real effects that both witnesses acknowledge of climate change. We can argue whether it causes a particular disaster or not, but no one can argue that the climate is changing and that it is having an effect. We see it in Maine in our forests, in our oceans - the Gulf of Maine is warming faster than any other body of water on Earth with the exception of the Arctic Ocean. I think it's ironic by the way, the sudden interest in Greenland, and it's strategic value rests upon the 75% reduction in Arctic Ocean ice over the last 40 years. Either climate change is real or it isn't, but it is certainly real in many areas of the country and to argue to the contrary is not realistic. It is a challenge that we have to meet and I hope that we don't take tools out of our toolbox that can contribute to the solution of that problem, as well as sustainable and economically viable energy. Thank you, Mr. Chairman," concluded Senator King.

As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, Senator King has advocated for climate solutions that deliver on the clean energy potential of the historic Inflation Reduction Act. He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of permitting reform to deliver carefully considered, timely approvals of sorely-needed clean energy projects. Senator King has also been one of the Senate's most vocal advocates for improving energy storage technologies and development and worked to include significant storage investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act.

Recently, Senator King published an Op-Ed and spoke with CNN regarding his positions on the advise and consent process of Cabinet-Level nominees.

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